New president of Brazil’s electoral court takes office

The new president of Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court (TSE), Judge Alexandre de Moraes, who will coordinate and oversee next October’s legislative elections, took office Tuesday night at a ceremony at the Court’s headquarters in Brasilia.

Present at the ceremony were President Jair Bolsonaro and former presidents José Sarney, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Dilma Rousseff and Michel Temer.

Also present were the president of Congress, Rodrigo Pacheco, the president of the Chamber of Deputies, Arthur Lira, and the president of the Supreme Federal Court (STF), Luiz Fux.

In his speech, Moraes passionately defended electronic ballot boxes and the Brazilian electoral system and received a standing ovation from more than 2,000 guests, including 22 governors, numerous parliamentarians, and foreign diplomatic representatives.

On the spread of misinformation in the campaign, the TSE chairman said that freedom of expression is not a “freedom to destroy democracy” and criticized incitement to hatred in political disputes.

“We are one of the largest democracies in the world in terms of electoral votes, and among the four largest democracies in the world,” he stressed.

“We are the only democracy worldwide that compiles and publishes election results on the same day. With agility, security, competence, and transparency. It is a source of national pride,” he stressed.

Moraes said Tuesday’s ceremony symbolizes respect for institutions and recognition of democracy as the only system in which power comes from the people.

“Today’s ceremony symbolizes respect for institutions as the only way for the growth and strengthening of the Republic. And the strength of democracy as the only political system in which all power comes from the people and must be exercised for the good of the people,” he said.

In October, Brazilians will go to the polls to elect a president and vice president, governors, deputies, and senators. The first round is set for October 2, with a possible runoff on October 30.

The election of Moraes as TSE president is controversial in the country because he is Jair Bolsonaro’s nemesis. Bolsonarists see it as an unnecessary provocation.